Updated October 2026
Best Time to Visit Colonial National Historical Park
National Historical ParkVirginia
Best month to visit
September
81°F / 63°F avg high / low
Our recommendation
Visit Colonial in September
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, July is the most crowded month (~1.3× the average month) and February is the quietest.
- Annual visits
- 1.6M
- 2025
- Busiest month
- Jul
- 1.3× avg
- Quietest month
- Feb
- 0.4× avg
- 10-yr trend
- falling
- -21.8%
More photos of Colonial
Photos courtesy of the National Park Service (public domain).
How crowded is Colonial by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 1979–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
Colonial National Historical Park weather by month →
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Quiet | 43 Poor | 49°F / 31°F | 9.7 h |
| February | Very quiet | 53 Fair | 52°F / 32°F | 10.6 h |
| March | Average | 34 Poor | 60°F / 39°F | 11.7 h |
| April | Busy | 40 Poor | 70°F / 48°F | 13.0 h |
| May | Busy | 54 Fair | 77°F / 57°F | 14.0 h |
| June | Busy | 46 Fair | 84°F / 65°F | 14.5 h |
| July | Busy | 28 Poor | 89°F / 70°F | 14.3 h |
| August | Busy | 34 Poor | 87°F / 69°F | 13.4 h |
| Septemberour pick | Busy | 46 Fair | 81°F / 63°F | 12.2 h |
| October | Busy | 42 Poor | 71°F / 51°F | 11.0 h |
| November | Quiet | 52 Fair | 61°F / 41°F | 10.0 h |
| December | Quiet | 44 Poor | 53°F / 34°F | 9.4 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00449151, ~6.9 mi away).
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About visiting Colonial
Colonial National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in VA and one of the busier parks in the system, drawing about 1.6 million recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has eased over the past decade, down about 21.8%. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: July is the busiest month at about 1.3× the park's average month, while February is the calmest at roughly 0.4× — a 3-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 32% of the year's visitors arrive in the three summer months of June, July and August alone, so timing a trip outside that window is the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels. Weather swings from an average high-season warmth near 79°F in July down to about 40°F in January, with the wettest stretch in July. About 8 months a year see comfortable average temperatures in the 50–80°F range, which is part of why crowd timing and weather timing don't always line up. The sweet spot is September: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). Visit then and you trade a little peak-season certainty for noticeably shorter lines and easier parking than the July rush. Daylight ranges from about 9.4 hours in midwinter to 14.5 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. A standard private-vehicle entrance pass runs about $15, valid for several days, so a shoulder-season trip stretches that fee across quieter, more comfortable days. These crowd figures are drawn from 1979–2025 of National Park Service visitor-use records, paired with 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals, and are updated as new monthly data is released.
Park overview
On May 13, 1607, Jamestown was established as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Three cultures came together – European, Virginia Indian and African–to create a new society that would eventually seek independence from Great Britain. On October 19, 1781, American and French troops defeated the British at Yorktown in the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War.
Weather & conditions
During the summer season visitors should dress in light, comfortable clothing, wear comfortable shoes and use sunscreen. We recommended you carry a bottle of water with you. High temperatures and high humidity create higher risk of heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Most of the Historic site is out-of-doors and although not a great distance from an air-conditioned building, staying properly hydrated will help prevent these illnesses. During the fall visitors should have a light jacket available.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Colonial
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Colonial National Historical Park — live availability and prices to plan your trip. September is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather. Full lodging guide: when to book, gateway vs in-park, and the crowd calendar that drives room rates.
Top-rated places to stay near Colonial
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
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Getting to Colonial
The nearest airport is Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF), about 10 mi (17 min drive) away. Most visitors reach Colonial by car.
Entrance fees
A standard private-vehicle entrance pass is about $15, typically valid for several days.
Frequently Asked Questions
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at Colonial National Historical Park. The park is busiest in July (about 1.3× the average month) and quietest in February.
July is the busiest month at Colonial National Historical Park, running roughly 1.3 times the park's average monthly visitation.
February is the quietest month at Colonial National Historical Park, at about 0.4× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Colonial National Historical Park recorded about 1,582,994 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been falling over the past decade (-21.8%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Colonial National Historical Park averages about 79°F (July). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF) is the closest airport to Colonial National Historical Park, about 10 mi (17 min drive) away.
Nearby parks to visit
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Keep exploring
Water quality of lakes near Colonial
If you are planning to swim, paddle or fish on this trip, these graded lakes are within a 40-mile drive. Grades are A–F from EPA and state-agency sampling.
- Lee Hall Reservoir water qualityGrade A · 5 mi · VA
- Sta Lake water qualityGrade A · 7 mi · VA
- Little Creek Reserv Sta Lake water qualityGrade A · 15 mi · VA
- Waller Mill Reserv Sta Lake water qualityGrade B · 8 mi · VA
- Diascund Reservoir Off Dam water qualityGrade B · 21 mi · VA
Beach water quality near Colonial
Beaches within a 40-mile drive, graded on multi-year bacteria sampling from EPA BEACON — worth checking before you plan a swim day.
- Gloucester Point Beach water qualityGrade A · 7 mi · VA
- Salt Ponds water qualityGrade A · 22 mi · VA
- Buckroe North water qualityGrade A · 22 mi · VA
- Festival Beach water qualityGrade A · 25 mi · VA
- Captains Quarters water qualityGrade A · 26 mi · VA
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.